113 Bikes Shared with the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes
Last Thursday, five of our BBP staff members and eleven volunteers packed vehicles with tubes, tires, and bike parts in preparation for a day at Duck Valley Reservation with the Shoshone-Paiute tribes. For the past three years, we have partnered with the tribes to provide refurbished bicycles and bike repairs to adults, teens, and kids in their community. With a community of 1,300+ residents, this reservation is one of the most isolated communities in the US, far removed from cities and resources, making these services critical.
We set out that morning with the plan to give away over one hundred bicycles and free repairs to residents taking part in the Duck Valley Arbor & Earth Day Celebration on the shores of Mountain View Reservoir. It was a hot, sunny spring day with sedge grass swaying in the wind and yellow-headed blackbirds calling. The day was a celebration of the community, including a tribal program, a chili/fry bread/cake decorating contest, barbecue, free boat rides, and a fishing derby with prizes for whoever had the biggest catch!
Our bike giveaway kicked off at 2 PM and was one of the biggest turnouts we’ve ever seen. In less than three minutes, 113 bikes were claimed by eager new owners ready to ride! Throughout the day, 48 bikes were also repaired. We set up our BASH (bicycle and safety hour) riding course on a concrete pad by the docks, and kids and teens rode for hours! A group of girls sorted through hundreds of stickers, decorating their helmets and bikes with ice cream cones, glitter, and horses. A group of teenage boys took to the winding gravel side roads and popped wheelies while racing.
A social worker at the reservation, Tamara, has been working with us to grow our partnership and suggested that we keep coming to this annual celebration. She also shared her own perspective on how bikes have impacted the youth she works with and her own son. In 2024, her son, MJ, received a bike and learned how to ride for the first time with volunteers in the BASH safety course. This year, he came back to get a bike that was a better fit. She said that for many youth on the reservation, a bike is the only way to get around. With many youth being raised by a single parent or grandparent, having an adult beside them while learning to ride can provide meaningful one-on-one support and encouragement they may not otherwise receive. Providing a way for youth to enjoy time away from screens with friends outside is also important.
Thanks to the generosity of our community, these bikes will empower youth at Duck Valley. BBP operates on Shoshone, Bannock, and Northern Paiute lands, and we recognize and honor our Indigenous neighbors not just in words, but through action. Strengthening our relationships with our tribal partners is a commitment we are proud to uphold, and with the continued support of our community, we look forward to supporting this partnership for years to come.
